Flooring

Staff -- Interior Design, 5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

Rug Art

Plaster artist Sigal Sasson evokes the magic of the forest floor with Leafdrop. The cut pile is Himalayan wool yarn carded by hand; the accents are silk. This custom rug is 6 by 9 feet, but ask for the size and color you prefer. 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 1721, Riverdale, NY 10463; 877-478-4278; rug-art.net. circle 571

Classic Rug

Designer Barbara Barran teams with Peruvian rug makers to realize Ribbon, one of seven offerings in the New Naturals collection. On a cotton backing, blended wool-and-alpaca yarn is held in place by latex and jute. One hundred fifty undyed or mineral-dyed colors are available. 235 East 60th Street, Suite 1, New York, NY 10022; 888-334-0063; classicrug.com. circle 572

Tibetano

Collaborators Shahram Nazar and Heidy Garay endowed their Loopy cut-pile carpet with delicately interlocking rings of wool accented in silk. The Azure colorway adopts the look of an exquisite antique damask, though other effects are possible with the use of a custom palette. 1 Grand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631; 800-995-5784; tibetano.com. circle 576

J.Milo Design

Artist Jessica Miller Lobeck's 7-foot square Thorn in My Side area rug is pure New Zealand wool knotted by hand in Nepal. It's super sharp in turquoise, and also available brown, orange, or black. Custom colors (and sizes) are no problem. 563640th Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98199; 970-870-3030; jmilo.com. circle 573

Shaw

With its wide stripes and floating moons, Lunar Weave by designer Reesie Duncan is one of three new standard running-line styles available in nine colors. Also in the Interlock portfolio: two coordinating sculptured geometric broadlooms (in 18 colors) and six customizable styles. 380 South Industrial Boulevard, Calhoun, GA 30120; 877-502-7429; shawcontractgroup.com. circle 575

PacifiCrest

Tip-sheared, patterned loop styles Venice and Monaco are Ultron 6.6 nylon in 27 colorways—some tonal and others multicolored. During manufacturing, any nylon sheared is reclaimed. Plus, the company's optional E-LOK BioBak backing is produced with chemistry incorporating (renewable) soybean oil. 17111 Red Hill Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614; 800-522-8838; pacificrest.com. circle 574

Asha Carpets

Designer Joanna Michalowicz recalls the dreamlike visions of clouds and wind in antique Tibetan Thangka paintings with her Chinese-made Mandala rug. Its coral reds of highland wool are outlined in cool shades of turquoise, blue, silver, and gold silk. Available in custom shapes, colors, and sizes. 94-98 Nassau Avenue, Suite 360, Brooklyn, NY 11222; 914-645-1262; ashacarpets.com. circle 577

Tufenkian

The artfully rustic Flower Power carpet, part of the Primitive Chic collection, delivers blooming peasant style into the realm of fine hand-knotted rugs in standard sizes. The sunny shades of this design's Cornstalk colorway start as unbleached virgin Tibetan wool. 919 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 800-475-4788; tufenkian.com. circle 581

Judy Ross Textiles

Invoking both the organic forms of nature and the built environment of urban life, Calendar is a chestnut, silver, graphite, and tangerine runner of Tibetan wool carpet hand-knotted in Nepal. Both custom colors and sizes are available upon request, and the carpet also sells in a hand-embroidered chain-stitch version. 41 Union Square West, Suite 907, New York, NY 10003; 212-842-1705; judyrosstextiles.com. circle 578

Martin Patrick Evan

Inspired by a vintage hair-on-hide rug, company co-owner John Patrick Dolan made his first plush-pile prototype for the Zebra collection in browns and cream. Then Dolan changed his stripes. In this wool-silk-blend piece, 16 gradated reds give the stripes dimension against the beige background. An 8-foot circle is shown, though other colors, sizes, and outlines—from square to animal-shaped—are also possible. 979 Third Avenue, Suite 801, New York, NY 10022; 800-734-8214; martinpatrickevan.com. circle 580

Liora Manné

This designer's proprietary Lamontage felting process needle-punches custom-dyed fibers into durable floor coverings. Subsequently saturating the rug with natural latex produces the practical, cleanable—and artful—final product. And, as a bonus, New Dimensions Bubbly Swirls is equally practical indoors or out. 210 11th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001; 212-965-0302; lioramanne.com. circle 579

Monterey

Berber-inspired weaves—the heathered solid Full Volume and multicolor-stripe Site Line—come in a total of 16 warm neutrals and jewel tones. The designers used CrossWeave looms to loop Dynex yarn into the 12-foot-wide broadlooms. 311 Smith Industrial Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30721; 800-248-2878; tandus.com. circle 582

Endless Knot

This company's hand-colored line drawings go off to Asia, where Nepalese weavers ply giant floor-to-ceiling looms. Though the designs are translated into precise computer-generated maps, charming imperfections persist in the weave of Mito, a quiet composition of Chinese silk accents and hand-carded Tibetan wool. 364 Blodgett Street, Cotati, CA 94931; 707-794-9222; endlessknotrugs.com. circle 583

Durkan

Intended for casinos, hotels, and restaurants, Virginia Langley's Las Palmas collection places large-scale palmetto fronds alongside vibrant corals and other tropical imagery. There are six borders, 11 broadloom patterns, one medallion, one corridor pattern, and two entry rugs. 500 Town Park Lane, 400, Atlanta, GA 30144; 800-554-6637; durkan.com. circle 586

Fortune Contract

Solutia Ultron yarn is space-dyed to subtly change color as it runs. The process gives designer Judith Ingalls's Space Guy commercial carpet the beauty and patina of Tibetan tea-stained rugs. The pattern is in both a broadloom and a 2-foot square tile version. Both are available in 17 colors. 272 Craft Drive, Dalton, GA 30721; 800-359-4508; fortunecontract.com. circle 585

Bentley Prince Street

The tufted tip-shear carpets collected in Urban Tribe are targeted at urban design-build infill and also at the conversion of industrial buildings. Patterns include the silk-look Urban Scene, the gridlike City Center, and the namesake Urban Tribe. All three are piece-dyed Antron nylon. 14641 East Don Julian Road, City of Industry, CA 91746; 800-423-4709; bentleyprincestreet.com. circle 584

Michaelian & Kohlberg

The exuberant new Poppies rug starts with never-bleached wool that's spun and dyed by hand. Chinese weavers execute the design crisply in a medium-height pile, which is hand-knotted in the style of coveted antique Tibetan carpets. Choose stock sizes or order a custom rug. 225 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022; 212-431-9009; michaelian.com. circle 591

Top Floor

Evoking stepping stones, Effervescent rugs' sculpted-pile rounds rise more than 1/2 inch above the dark background. Trompe l'oeil color gradations in the wool further enhance the three-dimensional effect. The rugs, made in Nepal, can be ordered in any colors. 2/6 Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, London SW10 0XE, U.K.; 44-207-795-3333; topfloorrugs.com. circle 587

Van Der Hurd Studio

Signature elements from Jasper and Christine Van Der Hurd's jewelry line reappear in their Dew Drops rug, one of 20 carpets in the Follow the Drop collection. The silk and New Zealand wool yarns for the hand-knotted 6-by-9-foot design can be custom-colored. 260 Fifth Avenue, Suite 11S, New York, NY 10001; 212-213-6541; vanderhurdstudio.com. circle 588

Tai Ping

Anyone with matting on the bedroom floor knows straw scratches bare feet. Cross Stitch hand-tufted wool loop carpets are reminiscent of sisal, but with a bit of bounce and a contrasting silk overstitch that adds a touch of unexpected luxury—and gives tender soles a break. Custom colors are possible. 860 Broadway, New York, NY 10003; 212-979-2233; taipingcarpets.com. circle 589

Joan Weissman

Crisp as an offshore breeze, the Aloha carpet from this company's Trade Winds collection recalls historic appliqué quilts developed originally in the Hawaiian islands. Familiar Hawaiian plants appear in the hand-tufted cut-and-loop wool. A 10-foot square is shown; custom colors and sizes can be ordered. 3710 Silver Southeast, Albuquerque, NM 87108; 505-265-0144; joanweissman.com. circle 590

Madison Leathers

Only the finest European skins with the most attractive markings are added to the Natural Hair Hides collection. Expert hand sewing in Italy adds a topstitched accent to the finished patchwork for floors—though the pieces are equally at home on walls. 979 Third Avenue, Suite 816, New York, NY 10022; 212-207-3304; madisonleathers.com. circle 592

Constantine

Not crazy about loops? Then have the seagrass-matting-inspired texture of your Ultron nylon Concert carpet sheared to look like a wool rug. The 24 colors can also be purchased as 18-inch square tiles or as a broadloom. P.O. Box 2399, 525 Callahan Drive, Dalton, GA 30721; 800-308-4344; constantinecarpet.com. circle 593

Mirage

Prefinished floors install with virtually no dust; what's more, when finishing is done at the factory, sawdust and waste wood are reused, in chipboard or for heating kilns. This manufacturer's factory-applied Toffee stain adds a luscious, buttery gold to 5-inch-wide maple strips topped with a low-luster cashmere finish. Other delicious colorways are Truffle and Crême-Brulé. 125598th Street, Saint-Georges, Quebec G5Y 8J5, Canada; 800-463-1303; miragefloors.com. circle 596

Looplife

From an original acrylic-on-canvas painting, artist Sherri Goldman adapted her Orbital Loop rug using "heavy sheared" New Zealand wool. The 16 wool colors used in this design include espresso, chocolate, ivory, blue violet, lilac, oranges, coral, and grays. Silk accents in the 8-foot square rug are hot pink and espresso. 99 John Street, New York, NY 10038; 917-531-5168; looplife.com. circle 594

Invision

The sculptured tip-sheared texture of Cosmopolitan carpet feels distinctly urban, thanks in part to a sophisticated palette of 13 yarn-dyed nylon neutrals. And the geometric pattern itself recalls the structure and rhythm of big cities like New York. Choose broadloom or 24-inch tile. 818 J&J Drive, Dalton, GA, 30721; 800-241-4586; invisioncarpet.com. circle 595

Designweave

From the tooXtwo collection of coordinates, Too Handsome offers bold rows of loops in a 2-foot square carpet tile, in 12 solution-dyed colorways. The product is backed with EcoWorx, a non-PVC backing, and the fiber itself is at least a quarter recycled (and fully recyclable through depolymerization).15305 Valley View Avenue, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670; 866-367-7429; designweave.com. circle 597

Fort Street Studio

Manhattan-based designers Brad Davis and Janis Provisor created their luxurious and densely woven wild-silk carpet Circles in misty and mysterious sage woodland tones—though you can choose your own custom colors. The carpets are hand-woven using a Persian knot technique. 578 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10012; 212-925-5383; fortstreetstudio.com. circle 601

Woolshire

This family-run company counts Oprah, Seinfeld, Travolta, and Ritz Carlton hotels as clients. The corduroy-like Palace pattern alternates stripes of low tufted loops and taller cut piles. The 14 choices include solids and fashionable two-color combos in pure New Zealand wool. 1275 Mauldin Road, Calhoun, GA 30701; 800-799-6657; woolshire.com. circle 598

Invista

Antron Brilliance fiber combines the soil-hiding of hollow-filament fibers with innovative engineering to deliver the richest and most vibrant colors. Carpets made with it have a natural luster because the fiber starts out white, for the greatest possible color capability. 175 Town Park Drive, Suite 300, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 877-525-8766; antron.net. circle 600

Woven Accents

Swiss chrome dyes tint Retro Shag in a palette of 70 colors, including pink, champagne, burnt orange, Watermelon, Root Beer, and Lemonade—though customization is always encouraged. A mix of 30 percent angora and the balance in New Zealand wool imparts a special softness. 525 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 800-222-7847; wovenonline.com. circle 599

Delinear

Designer Chris Baisa's Wire pattern—inspired, prosaically enough, by "a mass of bent wire"—is an ethereal beauty, despite its seemingly banal origins. The pattern is a standout from the Rugmark-certified Silk Elements collection. Custom-colored Himalayan wool-with-silk yarns can be requested for standard or custom sizes. 53614th Street, Suite 4, San Francisco, CA 94103; 800-282-8961; delinear.com. circle 602

Lees Carpets

A range of spa-inspired motifs brings healing imagery to the nylon textile sheet flooring in NeoFloor's Moments collection. Beyond its inherent durability, the thin but dense material speeds movement of wheelchairs and gurneys. 500 Town Park Lane, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 800-545-9765; leescarpets.com. circle 606

Beauvais Carpets

The rugs in the Hand Hooked Americana collection are anchored on a jute backing like a traditional hand-hooked rug. Rather than rags or remnants, however, the chunky 1/2-inch-long looped pile is composed from tubes of cotton fabric. Some 20 customizable patterns are offered. 595 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022; 212-688-2265; beauvaiscarpets.com. circle 605

Globus Cork

KnocOut tiles are made in America from Portuguese cork. Order the field tiles (which have routed holes) and the central medallions separately, in a broad array of 36 earthy tones. The backs are precoated with half of a two-part adhesive system, for floors, walls, or even ceilings. The six designs include diamond-in-square Duet and square-in-square Duo. 741 East 136th Street, Bronx, NY 10454; 718-742-7264; corkfloor.com. circle 603

Interface

There are 80 coordinating nondirectional motifs and 48 colors in the AXTile collection of textural loop carpets. So why choose? The square 193/4-inch tiles can be mixed and matched in the 48 colors, thanks to tufting technology capable of large ornate patterns using solution-dyed yarn. 1503 Orchard Hill Road, LaGrange, GA 30241; 800-336-0225; interfaceflooring.com. circle 604

T. Morton

Walnut for fine furniture and floors runs the gamut, from deep, dark brown with black heartwood and hints of purple, to tan and near-white. Morton's hand-scraped custom 8-inch walnut planks are 3/4-inch thick (with tongue-and-groove sides and ends); they're bleached to a uniform white, then lightly stained with a custom wipe and sealed with ultra-low-gloss clear urethane. P.O. Box 2256, Kenosha, WI 53141; 262-551-5513; tmorton.com. circle 607

Odegard

Handworkers deftly card, spin, and knot pure Himalayan wool into this designer's Hanten rug. Along with other patterns in her Sashiko collection, the design recalls old Japanese patchworks that were stitched together using layers of remnants, both for warmth and durability. 200 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1206, New York, NY 10016; 800-670-8836; odegardinc.com. circle 608

Hewitt Marx

Call this the winter of your content. Arctic carpets import the icy hush of barren northern climes. Though the weaving is done in Turkish villages following the traditional method of using mohair with the wool, the ends are hemmed in the contemporary manner, without fringe. 42828th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131; 415-731-1306; hewittmarx.com. circle 609

Chilewich

The looped-vinyl-matting Skinny Stripe Plynyl Shag now comes in a new cream, beige, and silver mélange known as Birch. Beyond precut 18-by-28-inch doormats, this colorway debuts this fall in 3-foot-wide rolled goods for wall-to-wall installations indoors or out. 44 East 32nd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016; 212-679-9204; chilewich.com. circle 611

LG Floors

Innovision has innovated for floors since 1921. A new range of fool-the-eye patterns in the ArtWalk collection accurately replicate the look of concrete, leather, or metallics, all in durable sheet vinyl. The metallic textures are 79 inches wide and sell in 49-foot- long rolls. The leathers and concrete are sold in 43-square-yard rolls. 18 Sidney Circle, Kenilworth, NJ 07033; 888-291-9903; innovisionflooring.com. circle 610